Visionaries FAQs
We want applying for Visionaries to be as straightforward as possible. If you have questions, we hope that we’ve answered them here. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, please at tvfoundation@thetvfestival.com
Visionaries aims to attract talented people from all backgrounds. If you require this information in a different format or need to apply in another way, please email tvfoundation@thetvfestival.com or call +44 207 843 0150
Eligibility
Visionaries brings together TV’s rising stars who have the ideas and ambition to redefine the industry in their image with compassion and creativity.
The Visionaries programme (an evolution of our previous Ones To Watch programme) is about championing and connecting TV’s best and brightest to give them the ability to turn their vision into real change for the industry and what we see on our screens.
We are seeking creatives from every part of the TV community who are authentic to who they are and want to use their power, influence and passion to develop their career while having a positive impact on the wider industry.
A place on Visionaries is a life-changing, money-can’t-buy opportunity to super-charge your TV career. Offering you the chance to develop professionally and personally, with exclusive sessions at Edinburgh TV Festival and throughout the year and access to a growing network of like-minded people.
There will be five spaces on Visionaries reserved to support individuals who are returning to the TV industry after time away for any reason. Previously called ReConnect, we’re now bringing this into Visionaries to give you a wider professional network.
- At least five years’ experience in the TV industry. There is no upper age or experience limit, but the scheme is pitched at people at the ‘mid-level’ in their careers, who are established but not yet in senior positions.
- Commitment and passion for television and the television industry.
- Commitment to the Visionaries programme and you must not have taken part in any similar career development programme in the past year.
- Ambition to keep developing your career with vision and purpose, with a belief in fairness and equity.
- Self-awareness, reflective skills and an openness to learning.
- Curiosity and desire to learn about the challenges and opportunities in the wider industry.
- Desire to give back, improve the industry, and be part of a supportive community.
No, Visionaries is a self-nominated programme.
Absolutely – our 25 selected delegates will reflect talent from all areas of the industry, including freelancers
Visionaries is geared towards giving people a career boost in the UK TV industry, so the scheme wouldn’t benefit you fully if you live and work outside of the UK.
You must at least have the right to work in the UK/be planning to do so. Please also consider the travel costs of getting yourself to Edinburgh because this is the one aspect of the scheme we do not cover.
We welcome applications from people working in any area of TV in any genre. The only people we don’t accept applications from are people who only work in on-camera roles such as presenter or actor. However, if you do either of these alongside an off camera function such as producing, you would still be eligible.
Below, you’ll find some of the roles delegates have held in the past/the departments they have worked in. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list – if you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply, please don’t hesitate to get in contact at tvfoundation@thetvfestival.com
- Production (Producer, AP)
- Development (Development Producer, AP)
- Production Management (Production Manager, Production Coordinator)
- Post Production (Editor)
- Scripted (Screenwriter, Script Editor, Scripted Development)
- Broadcast Journalism
- Director
- Digital
- Business Affairs
- Scheduling
- Acquisitions
- PR
- Talent Agent
Applying
Applications for Visionaries 2025 will open Thursday 30th January.
The 2025 Visionaries application form is made up of three sections:
– Personal details
– Application questions
– Equal opportunities monitoring information.
In the first stage of assessment, we will only be reviewing your answers to the
application questions. The other information you provide in the personal details
and CV will only be used to check eligibility.
There are five questions, and you should limit each answer to 200 words (or a 2 min video)
You can apply for Visionaries 2025 HERE.
Please look at our Application Questions HERE to prepare yourself.
The Visionaries programme (an evolution of our previous Ones To Watch programme) is about championing and connecting TV’s best and brightest to give them the ability to turn their vision into real change for the industry and what we see on our screens.
We are seeking creatives from every part of the TV community who are authentic to who they are and want to use their power, influence and passion to develop their career while having a positive impact on the wider industry.
There will be five spaces on The Visionaries reserved to support individuals who are returning to the TV industry after time away for any reason. Previously called ReConnect, we’re now bringing this into Visionaries to give you a wider professional network.
We are looking for people who have …
- At least five years’ experience in the TV industry. There is no upper age or experience limit, but the scheme is pitched at people at the ‘mid-level’ in their careers, who are established but not yet in senior positions.
- Commitment and passion for television and the television industry.
- Commitment to the Visionaries programme and you must not have taken part in any similar career development programme in the past year.
- Ambition to keep developing your career with vision and purpose, with a belief in fairness and equity.
- Self-awareness, reflective skills and an openness to learning.
- Curiosity and desire to learn about the challenges and opportunities in the wider industry.
- Desire to give back, improve the industry, and be part of a supportive community.
After the online application, successful candidates will be invited to interview with one member of the TV Foundation team and an industry expert. These will take place via Zoom throughout May.
We will then check references for our top candidates and make offers, taking into account your application answers, interview, and references.
No. This is an evolution of Ones To Watch with many of the same features. But take a look at our other opportunities such as Changemakers or our year-round events.
Being on the programme
We produce a bespoke programme specifically for Visionaries. The sessions are different every year and are tailored to suit that year’s intake. Previous speakers include Georgia Brown, Patrick Holland, Sarah Asante, Charlotte Moore, and Mandy Chang.
You will also receive a full pass for the Edinburgh TV Festival, which gives you all the access and advantages of a full Festival delegate.
We are committed to making our programmes and the Festival as inclusive as possible. Read the Festival’s accessibility policies here.
If there are any reasonable accommodations you require to be able to participate in the assessment process or in the programme we will make them and cover the associated costs. If you have any questions about access or inclusion please email tvfoundation@thetvfestival.com